Blu ray review: Saigon (1948)

Kino Lorber has released the fourth and final film in which actors Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake were co-starred.  Saigon is a good drama dealing specifically with the then-contemporary post-war era.

Ladd is a pilot who gets a flying gig from Lake for $10,000 bucks.  There are some conflicts, some misrepresentation, and a love triangle all adding to the narrative.  Ladd and Lake get support from Wally Cassell and Douglas Dick, the later playing a man who has only a couple months to live due to a wartime head injury.

Saigon is often referred to as the weakest and least financially successful of the Ladd-Lake pairings, but it is actually a good movie and was the fourth most popular film at the box office when released in March of 1948. It was also a hit in England.  Ladd’s star continued to rise, but by this time Lake’s career was winding down and Paramount did not pick up her option.  Both Ladd and Lake self-destructed and died at 50, while their co-stars Dick and Cassell lived to 95 and 102 respectively. 

Director Leslie Fenton does a good job of framing each scene, lighting the romantic moments dimly, especially when involving the love triangle that threatens to ruin long time friendships.  Fenton’s choice of placing shadows across Ladd’s and Lake’s faces as they speak (Lake looking at Ladd who sits beneath her looking away) is a very impressive use of mise-en-scene. 

Kino’s blu ray is a new HD Master from a 2K scan of the 35mm original fine grain. There is also an audio commentary by the late Lee Gambin and Elissa Rose, both of whom add their usual keen insight. 

The blu ray can be purchased at this link:  LADD/LAKE/SAIGON